The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 4. Knowing Aragaki-sama and the Meaning of Bride Candidate
The little fox demon, Ryuunosuke was silent a thousand languages in front of Reda. The poor girl who had turned into a very beautiful girl only saw the anxious face of the little fox. Since he had been silent for too long, Reda asked him to confirm his condition.
“Ryuunosuke? Does your stomach hurt?” asked Reda with an anxious face
“Eh?! Uh! Ti–it's okay! Ryuunosuke is fine, Reda-sama!”
Ryuunosuke replied in a panic. But apparently, Reda believed that easily.
“Reda-sama, mumpung is still morning.I want to explain a little about Aragaki-sama and what should be done by Reda-sama when meeting with him.”
“Good. I'll listen to Ryuunosuke.” Said the girl with a smile
Blush
Ryuunosuke blushing.
He really did not expect that the poor girl who was full of rotten eggs and tomatoes last night transformed into a beautiful girl after her body was clean.
“Reda-sama is indeed really pretty~ Ryuunosuke likes when Reda-sama stroked Ryuunosuke's head gently as before. If Reda-sama is married to Aragaki-sama, I am sure Aragaki-sama will also like when Reda-sama petted her big tail! Sure!”
“Can't, can't! Don't think anything first! She will be Aragaki-sama's wife if all this works out! Strengthen yourself, Ryuunosuke!”
The little fox started acting strange again. Reda could only smile waiting for his strange behavior to stop by itself.
“Sweet change. I didn't know that stealth wasn't dangerous. Could it be that the two demons last night were also actually good like this little fox?”
The thought appeared in Reda's heart. However, remembering the look in the eyes and the unpleasant welcome Aragaki gave made her moody.
“Aragaki-sama doesn't seem to like my arrival. Can I serve him well? I haven't even introduced myself to him.”
Now, it was Ryuunosuke's turn to look at Reda gloomily after he was done with his servant's instinct.
“Reda-sama, are you okay?”
“Ah, forgive me. I just daydreamed thinking of Aragaki-sama last night.”
“Be–so. Earlier, I apologized for the bad welcome Reda-sama received.” Ryuunosuke bowed in apology to Reda, but Reda felt it was unnecessary. He immediately helped the little fox to wake up.
Ryuunosuke explained a little about his master.
“Reda-sama, I'm sure you already know who Aragaki-sama is. He is the protector of the forest of Higashi no Mori as well as the entire eastern part of Kamakura.” region
“I've seen it. Aragaki-sama is very handsome and has a soft eye highlight.” Reda recalled the first time she saw Aragaki standing up and looking at her, rather staring at the two servants who came to pay her respects last night.
It was undeniable that the beautiful girl was so innocent, that she only remembered the amazing things she experienced and considered the bad things that happened to her as commonplace things that she had received every day.
Ryuunosuke resumed his sentence.
“Then, your ancestors coexisted with us who were the demons and Aragaki-sama allowed them to build a village in his territory.”
“But, there was an incident where the relationship instantly changed overnight so Aragaki-sama got angry and became so full of hatred. Even though the incident has already passed 200 years, the wound in the heart of Aragaki-sama who really hates being betrayed is still not healed.”
“What incident is it?”
“Umm.. I still can't tell you. But, I hope Reda-sama believes me! I will do anything to help Reda-sama while here! Reda-sama can trust Ryuunosuke completely and Ryuunosuke will also believe in Reda-sama completely!”
Reda became so calm hearing the little fox's words. It was never thought that he would be able to speak and smile thanks to the little fox.
“Oh yes, I almost forgot! Since it will be noon we will be facing Aragaki-sama, I will explain a little about Aragaki-sama. Please listen and remember well yes.”
“Good.”
“Aragaki-sama is very picky in a variety of things. Because he is the patron and owner of Higashi no Mori, he is very careful even to his own servants and guards.”
“He is strong and highly upholds honest nature, therefore he hates when anyone lies or betrays the trust he has given. The task of Reda-sama later after becoming Aragaki-sama's servant is to do all Aragaki-sama's commands whatever it is.”
Reda nodded. No objections or other questions from him.
“In addition, Reda-sama will only be a candidate for ‘bride’ Aragaki-sama within a certain time.”
Reda was a little surprised and confused by that sentence. “Specific time? What does it mean?”
Now was the hardest part for Ryuunosuke.
“I don't want to say it! I don't want to say it! But if Ryuunosuke doesn't say it, Reda-sama will end up like he did. Some even got killed on the spot because Ryuunosuke did not explain it properly! How's this?”
Ryuunosuke who still keeps the diversity in him, is very forced to say things that he really does not want to say.
“Re–Reda-sama.Reda-same only have 3 months to serve Aragaki-sama.”.
“3 months? Then, will after 3 months I get married to Aragaki-sama? Didn't Ryuunosuke say Aragaki-sama won't marry a human?”
Ryuunosuke took a deep breath then with a gulp of his saliva, he said everything.
“Reda-sama.all the girls given as candidates for ‘bride’ Aragaki-sama are no longer here. They are gone after 3 months have passed.”
“Where do they go?” Reda asked with her innocent face
“They. Aragaki-sama killed him after 3 months.”
“Eh?” Reda was so shocked to hear it
“Reda-sama, the reason for calling the candidate ‘bride’ for Aragaki-sama is not a sweetener, but there is an intent implanted from your ancestors. Kamakura's ancestors who have made fatal mistakes in the past thought of giving gifts in the form of beautiful girls as servants and wives of Aragaki-sama.”
“They will serve and do everything Aragaki-sama ordered. If any girl succeeds in making Aragaki-sama willing to forgive the mistakes of your ancestors in the past, she will get married and make the ‘bride’ candidate as the wife of the ruler of this forest.”
“But over the past 200 years, not a single sacrificial girl has managed to melt the heart of Aragaki-sama who has hated humans. Even the hatred is getting bigger to freeze the heart of Aragaki-sama who used to love humans so much.”
“The longest time Aragaki-sama gave to his ‘bride’ candidates is always the same which is 3 months. After that, Aragaki-sama will not hesitate to behead them and give their death marks to the village.”
The one who heard it could only be silent. Never did he think that all these beautiful girls in his village had been dead. But there was no surprise as expected.
“Reda-sama only has time to serve Aragaki-sama for 3 months and by taking advantage of that time as well, Reda-sama should be able to make Aragaki-sama want to receive you even if only a little.”
“Had it worked, although Reda-sama would probably never marry Aragaki-sama, at least you could still live and go as far away from Kamakura.” as possible
Ryuunosuke almost cried. He explained it all with fear. He remembered how the reaction of all the other girls who tried many times to escape without doing the slightest bit of her duty.
Some of the girls in the past have tried to kill Aragaki-sama after knowing the meaning of the candidate ‘bride’. This led to their accelerated death.
Ryuunosuke has been very hopeful for Reda this time, since he and his servant's instincts are so sure that the poor beautiful girl is a match for the master. She was so hopeful that even if not a match, Reda might be able to make her master willing to change.
Fearfully, Ryuunosuke looked at Reda's face and how excited he was to see the smile on the girl's face.
The girl even said to him “ Ryuunosuke, thanks for saying all that. I'll try well.”
“Re–Reda-sama..”
“Since the beginning, I have known that I have indeed been banished and will not live longer. Knowing that after being sacrificed I still had 3 months chance to live made me very happy. It's good luck to me and I'll try until the end.”
“But..but if it fails, Reda-sama will be killed by Aragaki-sama!!”
“I'll leave everything to the Gods. Even if I have to die here, it's better than having to die in a kennel in the village. Believe me, this is the greatest gift to me. Ryuunosuke don't worry, yes.”
A sweet smile on the face of the beautiful girl made Ryuunosuke cry.
The little fox really did not expect that for the first time in 200 years, he met a different candidate of ‘bride’. Ryuunosuke hugged Reda while crying.
He said all the grief and sadness of his heart.
“During this time..During this time Ryuunosuke has been trying to convince them to fight for Aragaki-sama to open his heart again. But, let alone trying.they repeatedly tried to escape from this place and even wanted to poison Aragaki-sama.”
“They all did not make the hatred in Aragaki-sama's heart subside, but instead made his heart even more cold and frozen. Aragaki-sama who is good to all beings no longer exists. Ryuunosuke has almost given up!”
“I...eventually I can meet the real ‘bride’ candidate! Ryuunosuke will try to protect Reda-sama! Ryuunosuke will fight as well for Aragaki-sama to become the Aragaki-sama he once was!”
Reda heard all of that with a smile while trying to comfort the crying little fox.
“It's okay, Ryuunosuke. We fight yes. We fight together to make Aragaki-sama want to smile at humans and become the master Ryuunosuke had hoped for.”
“Uumm...” Ryuunosuke nodded
Reda wiped away the sweet little fox's tears and comforted her. In her own heart, Reda also made a decision for her life.
“Now, I know my destiny. I have to fight at least until Aragaki-sama wants to see me”
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